After spending a great morning with ken and jen and their great family, I set off for Cottonwood Pass. Ken had suggested to me that I go this route instead of my planned route over Monarch Pass. Cottonwood, he said, was higher(greater glory), more beautiful, and would have much less traffic than Monarch.
I'm glad I took his advice. Cottonwood Pass starts out slow, on a mildly inclined road in a valley. The road will be steep for a bit, then level out, get steep, and then level out; back and forth like this. This allows you to recuperate on the flatter sections.
The road from the town of Buena Vista to the summit of the pass is 25 miles. The slow incline starts perhaps 5 miles after Buena Vista. The slow climb stays, aside from a few short very steep sections, stays pretty constant for quite a while. Then the swithbacks start. The switchbacks are not a slow climb.
About four hours after leaving Buena Vista, I arrived, exhausted, at the top of Cottonwood Pass. At an elavation of more than 12,000 feet, the summit is above tree line. the view is literally breathtaking, as there is less oxygen in the air. Crusty snow remained either from last winter or from this fall's first snow. It was cold. It was absolutely incredible.
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6 comments:
another 2 or 3 of those passes and you'll be set to do l'alpe du huez.
I live at that altitude! WHOAH
Your adventures sound so effing great. I love your life.
haha ^ditto
Sarah- it is so awesome that you get to live at that altitude. I would've spent the night up there if it wasn't so freakin cold. I love being that high. Where are you?
Nick Ray- thanks man. Actually, another 2 or three of those passes and I think my legs might give me their letters of resignation. I had to do a bunch of switchbacks yesterday evening and even though it was nothing like the ascent of Cottonwood Pass I am so sore today! I'm not used to the sensation; I don't usually get sore, but as this trip goes on I think my body is running out of the extra energy it needs to repair during the night.
Alfie- I think we should have a national, or perhaps just regional, Zing Day. You know, like an awareness thing combined with the good natured fun of the totally uncalled for and undeserved insults directed at close friends. It would be like valentines day, but with less shmoozing and more "Ha! Zing!!"
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